Objectives: The study of the impact of Rheumatoid Arthritis in cognitive functions has not been well documented in Portugal. So, with this original article we tried to clarify this reality in this particular country.
Methods: We assessed the results of 45 Rheumatoid Arthritis female patients (intervention group), comparing each patient in a case control paired strategy (years in school and age), with control subjects (n = 45, in a total of 90 subjects). All subjects were evaluated with Paced Auditory Selective Attention Test, Word List Generation Test, Luria Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery, a Portuguese depression screening test (IACLIDE), STAI (anxiety trace and trait test) and the Mini Mental state examination.
Results: The results show, for the first time in Portuguese patients, the presence of major deficits in terms of cognitive function and symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Conclusion: This article strengthens the argument of the necessity to pay attention in psycho-educational, psychotherapeutic and cognitive stimulation as well as neuropsychological intervention in these types of patients.
